Fresh plan submitted to turn former Wakefield city centre pub into house share
New plans to convert a former city centre pub into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) have been submitted – months after a similar scheme for the building was rejected.
Wakefield Council previously said plans to turn the ground floor of the old Graziers property into a house share for five people would lead to “a poor level of amenity for future occupants.”
In August last year, a planning officer also said there would be a lack of shared social spaces and “insufficient bathroom facilities”within the property.
An appeal was then made by property firm Bridge-It Housing but the Planning Inspectorate upheld the council’s decision in February.
The company this week lodged a fresh application to convert the building, on Market Street, into a four-bedroom HMO.
A statement said the new proposal addressed comments made at the appeal by a planning inspector.
The document said: “In the inspector’s opinion the proposal would not provide acceptable living conditions for the future occupiers due to the lack of adequate communal living space.
“The applicant team reconsidered their requirements and the findings of the inspector and now present a scheme that will comply with the inspector’s requirements.”
The report said the development would provide “valuable housing accommodation in a sustainable location.”
It added: “The proposed development will deliver a development appropriate for site and neighbourhood in terms of scale, character and use.
“The proposal will not have any harmful impacts upon the character and appearance of the area or be detrimental to the residential amenity of occupants of existing residential properties adjacent to or close to the site.”
More than 70 people objected to the previous scheme after it was submitted last June.
Residents said they feared it would add to anti-social behaviour problems in the area.
One commented: “While housing is undeniably important, the concentration of HMOs in this area raises significant concerns for the long-term health, stability and identity of Wakefield as a community.
“HMOs often result in a transient population with limited ties to the local area.
“This undermines community spirit, weakens neighbourhood engagement, and can contribute to a decline in civic pride.
Others said it could deter new businesses from coming to the area and have a negative impact on regeneration projects.
The building closed as a pub around a decade ago before being occupied by the applicant.
Proposals to convert the upper floor into offices was approved in 2017.
Council officers have yet to determine the new application.